ABANG-LINGKOD party-list Representative Stephen Paduano said Wednesday, June 6, that he was told by Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to defend the proposed Negrosanon Federated Region (NFR) during the deliberation of the House committee on constitutional amendments, which will resume on June 19.
Paduano said there is a proposal to retain the existing 17 regions that will be transformed into Federated States plus the NFR.
"We are suggesting that NFR will be a separate state and to make it bigger, other provinces such as Siquijor, Guimaras and even Bohol will be the annexes," Paduano said.
Paduano and Representative Alfredo Benitez are members of the House committee on constitutional amendments.
He said he has put to rest the House bill proposing for the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR), which they pushed after President Rodrigo Duterte abolished the NIR, which was created through an Executive Order by former President Benigno Aquino III.
The Consultative Committee tasked by Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution is also pushing for 17+1 to highlight NFR.
Paduano also said that the 2019 elections is still uncertain because of federalism.
Extension of term of the present elected officials is possible because of the transition depending on the date of the plebiscite for federalism.
Paduano said 200 barangay officials from Bacolod City will take their oath of office at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Gym. It will be administered by Marañon.
"There are claims that I only have five barangay captains plus six of former Mayor Monico Puentevella, so we have 11. Let us see how many are going to the mass oath taking today. I do not control them. It is up for them to decide," Paduano said.
He said the barangay officials asked him to administer their oath but he wants the governor to administer it instead.
As to the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) election on July, Paduano said he was grooming Barangay Granada Captain Alfredo Talimodao but he has no number for the ABC presidency.
"So maybe Talimodao may just shepherd other barangay captains for a certain candidate," he said.
Paduano said he will transfer his registration to Bacolod City on July when the registration of voters resumes.
He said that is beside his future political plans because he found it far to go to E.B. Magalona to vote during elections.